Help choosing bicycle

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
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re_cycler
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by re_cycler »

SummitFreedom wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 10:52am
Cowsham wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 8:58am Front suspension isn't going to make that much difference to comfort - rear suspension is power zapping. 2" tyres in combination with a flat topped sprung saddle is the answer. ( although instead of springs in the saddle I now use a flat topped saddle with some inherent spring in it's plastic base. ) Don't ever buy a big cushioned saddle cos the foam your weight is on compresses against your perineum and can cut blood supply from your Dingle berries and Willy.
I googled 2 inch cycle tires and nothing comes up. 2 inches = 5cm. 5cm tires?! You sure? Please provide links for hybrid 5cm tires.
A few here.
https://www.wiggle.com/c/cycle/bike-par ... th=2.25%22
Don't be put off by the description saying MTB it's the sizes and tread that matter.
SummitFreedom
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by SummitFreedom »

re_cycler wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 11:02am
SummitFreedom wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 10:52am
Cowsham wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 8:58am Front suspension isn't going to make that much difference to comfort - rear suspension is power zapping. 2" tyres in combination with a flat topped sprung saddle is the answer. ( although instead of springs in the saddle I now use a flat topped saddle with some inherent spring in it's plastic base. ) Don't ever buy a big cushioned saddle cos the foam your weight is on compresses against your perineum and can cut blood supply from your Dingle berries and Willy.
I googled 2 inch cycle tires and nothing comes up. 2 inches = 5cm. 5cm tires?! You sure? Please provide links for hybrid 5cm tires.
A few here.
https://www.wiggle.com/c/cycle/bike-par ... th=2.25%22
Don't be put off by the description saying MTB it's the sizes and tread that matter.
But MTB tires on a hybrid is a no no? Too much rolling resistance?
re_cycler
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by re_cycler »

As mentioned it's things such as the tread and construction of the tyre which determine rolling resistance. Anyway when you've worn a tyre out or think it's too slow you can try something different.
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Cowsham
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by Cowsham »

SummitFreedom wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 11:09am
re_cycler wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 11:02am
SummitFreedom wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 10:52am

I googled 2 inch cycle tires and nothing comes up. 2 inches = 5cm. 5cm tires?! You sure? Please provide links for hybrid 5cm tires.
A few here.
https://www.wiggle.com/c/cycle/bike-par ... th=2.25%22
Don't be put off by the description saying MTB it's the sizes and tread that matter.
But MTB tires on a hybrid is a no no? Too much rolling resistance?
This is the best compromise -- cheap too

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-p ... 09542.html

You'll note that it comes in two options 27.5 x 2.0 inches and 700c -- ( I think the carrera subway comes with 27.5 x 2 inch tyres )

Good rolling resistance in the middle bit with side grip too -- the schwalbe big Ben is another good option -- lighter but a little more expensive.

You'll need good grip on gravel tracks.
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SummitFreedom
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by SummitFreedom »

re_cycler wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 11:20am As mentioned it's things such as the tread and construction of the tyre which determine rolling resistance. Anyway when you've worn a tyre out or think it's too slow you can try something different.
Yes and those nubs or whatever they're called, will lead to high rolling resistance I've read
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freiston
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by freiston »

If you really want to buy a bike, there's going to have to be compromises. At one end of the extreme, a carbon road bike won't be able to do what a full suss mountain bike or a three wheeled cargo bike will be able to do (or not very well) and vice versa. At the other end of the extreme, there will be nuances of difference between two hybrid bikes or two mountain bikes etc.. All buying decisions will involve gaining something and losing something else. At the "nuance end of the scale", the differences might not be that great - they might even be insignificant: the decision making process is much less obvious and often much less significant. At this end of the scale, it is experience that informs the decision - and different experienced people will make different decisions but there could well be a consensus on the big stuff with a bit of debate over the nuances.

At the end of the day, whatever bike you get, there will be rolling resistance and there will be bumps felt through the bike. If you want to ride smooth stuff as well as rough stuff, you're going to have to make compromises. Until you make those compromises and buy a bike, you won't get the experience to inform your decisions - it's a bit of a catch 22. But if you're in the right ball park (using the experience of others), those compromises are not going to be catastrophic - they might not even be significant. They might not be that difficult to turn around (such as replacing tyres for something fatter and knobblier or thinner and smoother) but you will never know until you try and use one or the other. Pretty much all bikes mentioned will not be a catastrophic bad choice but will be a bike you can use. Some will be better on the rough stuff, some better on the smooth stuff. Most will do both admirably but some will be a good choice for one but not so good for the other. Either way, you're going to feel some bumps and you're going to get some rolling resistance and you're going to have to turn those pedals.
Disclaimer: Treat what I say with caution and if possible, wait for someone with more knowledge and experience to contribute. ;)
rareposter
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by rareposter »

+1 for everything that freiston said above ^^.

This thread is going the same way as the previous one because you're going round debating minutiae that simply don't matter much at this sort of level.

A hybrid bike is like a saloon car. Standard, bit boring, does most jobs pretty well.
It's not going to carry the weight of a van, it's not going to be as fast as a sports car or as good off road as a 4x4 but to most people most of the time, that's fine.

Hybrids are the same in the bike world. Minor, mostly cosmetic differences between models so it's basically finding one you can afford, that you like the look of and that fits you.

End of the day, you still have to go out and ride it!
SummitFreedom
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by SummitFreedom »

freiston wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 12:30pm If you really want to buy a bike, there's going to have to be compromises. At one end of the extreme, a carbon road bike won't be able to do what a full suss mountain bike or a three wheeled cargo bike will be able to do (or not very well) and vice versa. At the other end of the extreme, there will be nuances of difference between two hybrid bikes or two mountain bikes etc.. All buying decisions will involve gaining something and losing something else. At the "nuance end of the scale", the differences might not be that great - they might even be insignificant: the decision making process is much less obvious and often much less significant. At this end of the scale, it is experience that informs the decision - and different experienced people will make different decisions but there could well be a consensus on the big stuff with a bit of debate over the nuances.

At the end of the day, whatever bike you get, there will be rolling resistance and there will be bumps felt through the bike. If you want to ride smooth stuff as well as rough stuff, you're going to have to make compromises. Until you make those compromises and buy a bike, you won't get the experience to inform your decisions - it's a bit of a catch 22. But if you're in the right ball park (using the experience of others), those compromises are not going to be catastrophic - they might not even be significant. They might not be that difficult to turn around (such as replacing tyres for something fatter and knobblier or thinner and smoother) but you will never know until you try and use one or the other. Pretty much all bikes mentioned will not be a catastrophic bad choice but will be a bike you can use. Some will be better on the rough stuff, some better on the smooth stuff. Most will do both admirably but some will be a good choice for one but not so good for the other. Either way, you're going to feel some bumps and you're going to get some rolling resistance and you're going to have to turn those pedals.
But one of the biggest debates is hybrid with suspension forks or not? As you can see above, some people say it's useless on a hybrid and won't deal with the small gravel stones

And Steve from Canterbury bike told me to get a mountain bike. So confusing.
Biospace
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by Biospace »

SummitFreedom wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 12:51pm
freiston wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 12:30pm If you really want to buy a bike, there's going to have to be compromises.
But one of the biggest debates is hybrid with suspension forks or not? As you can see above, some people say it's useless on a hybrid and won't deal with the small gravel stones

And Steve from Canterbury bike told me to get a mountain bike. So confusing.

Some compromises are better thought through than others, some products are better made from quality material as well as a better design. Most front forks on less expensive, non-specialist bikes are heavy and not worth bothering with, imo.

I find 1.75" tyres on a bike which is used off road and on (a 90s Marin Bear Valley SE) are a good compromise between providing plenty of cushioning but not too much drag.
rareposter
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by rareposter »

SummitFreedom wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 12:51pm But one of the biggest debates is hybrid with suspension forks or not? As you can see above, some people say it's useless on a hybrid and won't deal with the small gravel stones
You said you wanted suspension for comfort, yes? The forks you find on a £500 hybrid will never in a million years be as good as the forks you get on a £4000 MTB so there's no point in comparing them or getting bogged down in reviews about 'stiction' and performance, they're not there for performance.

They'll help with comfort. That's about as much as there is to it.
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freiston
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by freiston »

SummitFreedom wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 12:51pm
But one of the biggest debates is hybrid with suspension forks or not? As you can see above, some people say it's useless on a hybrid and won't deal with the small gravel stones

And Steve from Canterbury bike told me to get a mountain bike. So confusing.
Personally, unless I was spending loads and was going to do a lot of "mountain biking", I wouldn't go for suspension - for reasons that I think I went into in the other thread. Given the various uses you've mentioned, if I were in your shoes, I would go for a hybrid bike around the £400-£600 mark (because I think that kind of money gets a decent "introductory" bike). I would want it to have good clearance for tyres (probably 47mm tyres or bigger) and also for mudguards in case I want to fit some later. I would want it to be able to take a luggage rack. I would also want a bottom gear of about 28" or lower (preferably 20" or lower but I like low gears). I wouldn't go for suspension but your opening post states that you do - so if that's a "must" - then I'd get the same as I've described but with suspension forks - I might look to be spending a couple of hundred or so more to cover the cost of reasonable suspension forks (but I don't know much about suspension forks so I would be concentrating my efforts on researching them - but that's a moot point because I wouldn't consider them).

As a digression with a little significance, I'm looking at getting a new bike because I want to do more rough stuff and I find my 32mm tyred touring bike not ideal. At first I was looking at basically building a customised replacement for my touring bike on a new frame but with disc brakes and wider tyres but after starting a thread to canvass for opinions about newer technology here, I'm now thinking of getting a second bike for the rough stuff but also capable of some road and loaded use - possibly a customised build of this bike (but the one in the picture has a Ti frame and carbon forks - I'm looking at steel frame and forks).
Disclaimer: Treat what I say with caution and if possible, wait for someone with more knowledge and experience to contribute. ;)
SummitFreedom
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by SummitFreedom »

Maybe I should rent a cycle again from Kent cycle hire and try the wildart trail again, and deflate the tires a bit. See if it helps.

But what pressure should I set the tires to? I also won't have a pressure gauge, but I could buy one or ask him to deflate to a certain pressure. Though he might not be happy to do that because he might say it'll damage the tires cycling on low pressure?

The cycle will be a hybrid without suspension.
It'll be this:

Ridgeback 'Speed', Crossbar Frame
21 Speed. Comfortable and versatile. Suitable for all three routes. (Traditionally considered a 'male' frame. Comes with: lock, Helmet, stand, bottle-cage, rack and luggage strap.)

It will cost £30
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Cowsham
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by Cowsham »

Go and buy the carrera subway -- alloy frame and steel forks -- hydraulic disc brakes -- 2" tyres mudguards rear rack etc -- it's about 14kg and found it very stable when loaded up with all my kit for camping.
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SummitFreedom
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by SummitFreedom »

Turns out halfords don't offer a test ride. They will only let you cycle it in an aisle for a minute in the store.
rareposter
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Re: Help choosing bicycle

Post by rareposter »

SummitFreedom wrote: 10 Jun 2023, 9:02pm Turns out halfords don't offer a test ride. They will only let you cycle it in an aisle for a minute in the store.
Better than nothing.
A lot of shops are like that now. When I worked in the industry we progressively put in place tougher and tougher measures on test rides after various incidents and thefts.
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